Translations Director

Director, OCMC Translations Department

The Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC), St. Augustine, Florida, invites applications for the position of Director of the newly formed Translations Department.  This salaried position with benefits can be performed remotely within the continental USA. 

As the missions and evangelism agency of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America, it is OCMC's mission to make disciples of all nations (Mat 28-18-20).  A challenge is that 92% of the people groups the Church is called to reach have fewer than 1 million speakers.

The OCMC Translations Department serves the translation and publication needs of Hierarchs in all the languages of the people they shepherd, with special focus on resource-challenged indigenous linguistic minority people groups who instead of their country’s official language(s) use their native language in the home and in daily life within their community and desire to worship God in their native language. 

To meet these needs, subject to available funding, the department plans to develop and provide the following: 1) a digital Liturgical Translator’s Reference Library created by qualified scholars;  2) a software suite called DOXA, which provides tools for creation and management of the library’s content, liturgical translations, and publications (PDFs for commercial printing of liturgical books, and liturgical websites such as liturgia.mx); 3) training in the use of DOXA; and 4) translation courses and workshops.

The ideal candidate for the director position would combine scholarly expertise in Biblical Studies, Orthodox Theology, Liturgical studies, linguistics and translation with practical management experience and technical knowledge to lead this small, but multifaceted department. The candidate’s deep understanding of Classical, Biblical, Patristic, and/or liturgical Greek, and the exegesis of the Greek texts would enhance the accuracy and theological depth of the resources developed by the department for translators of the Orthodox liturgical texts. In addition to managing the staff, the Director is required to personally work on some aspect of the Liturgical Translator’s Reference Library or Course curriculum. The Director must have the technical aptitude to learn and demonstrate the features of DOXA and is responsible to grow the departmental program and its client base in coordination with the OCMC Executive Director and the Missionary Department.

Travel two to four times a year to the OCMC mission center is required and one or more overseas trips per year as needed.

Duties

  • Leadership and Management.  Oversee and direct the newly formed Translations Department at OCMC. Develop strategic plans and set goals for the department aligned with OCMC's mission. Manage department staff, resources, and budget. Collaborate with an academic and technical advisory committee.  Attend short daily staff and manager’s stand-up meetings; hour long weekly manager’s meetings; and monthly all-staff meetings.  These may be attended virtually.
  • Liturgical Translator's Reference Library. Oversee and personally contribute to the creation and development of the Liturgical Translator's Reference Library. Participate in seeking grants to fund scholars and experts to produce the content. With a technical and advisory committee, review content. Plan the scope and timeline for additional reference materials. Ensure the library meets the needs of linguistic-minority translators.
  • DOXA Software Development. Guide the ongoing development and improvement of the DOXA software suite. Oversee tools for content creation, translation assistance, and publishing. Manage the expansion of DOXA's capabilities for various languages and jurisdictions.
  • Training and Education.  Oversee and contribute to the development of training materials and course curriculum.  Coordinate the delivery of training, courses for translators and publishers, and translation workshops.
  • Outreach and Partnerships. Build relationships with Orthodox Hierarchs of various jurisdictions and linguistic communities. Expand the use of the department's resources and services by them. Collaborate with other translation organizations and experts in the field.
  • Technical Publications. Develop and work with an Academic and Technical Advisory Committee to establish and manage an open-access, online, peer-reviewed Journal of Liturgical Translation. Personally write and submit for articles for this and other journals. 

Essential Qualifications

  • Commitment to the Orthodox Christian Faith.
  • Commitment to assisting liturgical translators, particularly from linguistic minorities, in their efforts to facilitate worship in their native language.
  • Advanced academic degree in Biblical Studies, Classical Greek, Early Church History, Linguistics, Liturgical Studies, Patristics, Theology, Translation Studies, or a closely related field. A PhD is preferred given the scholarly nature of the work.
  • Deep knowledge of Orthodox Christian theology and liturgics.  Familiarity with the liturgical services (including the Holy Mysteries), the liturgical cycles, and the Greek liturgical books.
  • Strong background in Biblical Studies, with advanced skills in interpreting and analyzing the Greek Septuagint, Greek New Testament, and Greek patristic texts using exegetical methods and hermeneutical principles. This is crucial for understanding the scriptural basis of liturgical texts.
  • Strong leadership experience planning and managing multiple projects and initiatives to achieve long-term objectives.
  • Strong communication and interpersonal skills for fostering collaboration, facilitating understanding among diverse stakeholders, and effectively managing development and delivery of products and services.
  • Technical aptitude to understand and guide the development of software tools and databases in support of the needs of liturgical translators.
  • Teaching/training experience, ideally in one or more of the above or related fields, to develop and deliver educational programs.

Desirable Additional Qualifications

  • Excellent knowledge of the patristic texts and their exegetical and hermeneutical methods, with skill in interpreting and analyzing the Greek patristic texts.     
  • Strong intercultural communication skills to work effectively with diverse global partners.
  • Expertise in translation theory and practice, particularly related to biblical, liturgical, and religious texts. Experience in managing translation projects would be valuable.
  • Background in digital humanities, computational linguistics, or biblical software tools.
  • Experience in writing grant requests and managing funds received.

How to Apply

The interview process for this position is now open. To apply, send your CV/Resume and a letter to Dr. Michael Colburn, m.colburn@ocmc.org, explaining why you believe that your education, work, and life experiences qualify you for the position. 

Posted by

Orthodox Christian Mission Center

220 Mason Manatee Way
Saint Augustine, FL 32086

Web: www.ocmc.org
Email: m.colburn@ocmc.org
Phone: 904-347-7778

Posted on: September 20, 2024